John Hawks - The Traveler

“Goddamnit, Gabe! We can’t keep having this same conversation. Our father was crazy. And Mom was so weak that she went along with it.”

“Then why did those men attack us and burn down the house?”

“Because of our father. Obviously he did something wrong, something illegal. We’re not guilty of anything.”

“But the Grid-”

“The Grid is just modern life. Everyone has to deal with it.” Michael reached out and touched Gabriel’s arm. “You’re my brother, okay? But you’re also my best friend. I’m doing this for both of us. Swear to God. We can’t keep acting like cockroaches, hiding in the wall whenever someone turns on the light.”

THE BROTHERS WENT into the room and stood on opposite sides of the bed. Gabriel touched his mother’s hand. It felt like all the blood had left her body. “Wake up,” he said gently. “Michael’s here.”

She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw her two sons. “There you are,” she said. “I was dreaming about both of you.”

“How are you feeling?” Michael looked at her face and body, evaluating her condition. The tension in his shoulders and the quick way he moved his hands showed that he was worried, but Gabriel knew that his brother would never show it. Instead of accepting weakness of any sort, he always pressed forward. “I think you look a little stronger.”

“Oh, Michael.” She gave him a tired smile as if he’d just left muddy footprints on the kitchen floor. “Please don’t be that way. Not tonight. I need to tell you both about your father.”

“We’ve heard all the stories,” Michael said. “Let’s not get into that tonight. Okay? We need to talk to the doctor and make sure that you’re comfortable.”

“No. Let her talk.” Gabriel leaned over the bed. He felt excited and a little frightened. Maybe this was the moment that it was finally going to be revealed-the reason for his family’s pain.

“I know I’ve told you different stories,” Rachel Corrigan said. “I’m sorry. Most of the stories weren’t true. I just wanted to protect you.”

Michael looked across the bed and nodded triumphantly. Gabriel knew what his brother wanted to say. See? What did I always tell you: everything was fake.

“I’ve waited too long,” she said. “It’s so difficult to explain. Your father was… When he said… I didn’t…” Her lips trembled as if thousands of words were fighting to get out. “He was a Traveler.”

She looked up at Gabriel. Believe me was the expression on her face. Please. Believe me.

“Go on,” Gabriel said.

“Travelers can project their energy out of their bodies and cross over into other realms. That’s why the Tabula want to kill them.”

“Mom, don’t talk anymore. It’s just going to make you weak.” Michael looked disturbed. “We’ll get the doctor in here and make you feel better.”

Mrs. Corrigan raised her head off the pillow. “Not enough time, Michael. No time at all. You have to listen . The Tabula tried to…” She began to get confused again. “And then we…”

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Gabriel whispered, almost chanting.

“A Harlequin named Thorn found us when we were living in Vermont. Harlequins are dangerous people, very violent and cruel, but they’re sworn to defend Travelers. We were safe for a few years, and then Thorn couldn’t protect us from the Tabula. He gave us money and the sword.”

Her head fell back onto the pillow. Each word had drained her, taken away little pieces of her life. “I’ve watched you grow up,” she said. “I’ve watched you both, looking for the signs. I don’t know if you can cross over. But if you have the power, you must hide from the Tabula.”

She closed her eyes tightly as the pain pushed through her entire body. Desperate, Michael touched her face with his hand. “I’m here. Gabe is here, too. We’re going to protect you. I’m going to hire some more doctors, every kind of doctor…”

Mrs. Corrigan breathed deeply. Her body stiffened, then relaxed. It felt like the room had suddenly gotten cold, as if some kind of energy had escaped through the little gap beneath the door. Michael turned and ran out of the room, shouting for help. But Gabriel knew that it was over.

AFTER DR. CHATTERJEE confirmed the death, Michael got a list of local funeral homes from the nurse’s desk and called one on his cell phone. He told them the address, asked for a standard cremation, and gave them a credit card number.

“Is all this okay with you?” he asked Gabriel.

“Sure.” Gabriel felt numb and very tired. He glanced at the object that was now concealed beneath a sheet. A shell without Light.

They remained beside the bed until two men showed up from the funeral home. The body was slipped into a bag, placed on a stretcher, and carried downstairs to an unmarked ambulance. When the ambulance drove away, the Corrigan brothers stood together beneath the security light.

“When I made enough money I was going to buy her a house with a big garden,” Michael said. “I think she would have liked that.” He looked around the parking lot as if he had just lost something valuable. “Buying her a house was one of my goals.”

“We need to talk about what she told us.”

“Talk about what? Can you explain any of it to me? Mom told us stories about ghosts and talking animals, but she never mentioned anyone called a ‘Traveler.’ The only traveling we ever did was in that goddamn pickup truck.”

Gabriel knew Michael was right; their mother’s words hadn’t made any sense. He had always believed that she was going to give them an explanation for what had happened to their family. Now he would never find out.

“But maybe part of it is true. In some way-”

“I don’t want to argue with you. It’s been a long night and we’re both tired.” Michael reached out and hugged his brother. “It’s just the two of us now. We’ve got to back each other up. Get some rest and we’ll talk in the morning.”

Michael got into his Mercedes and drove out of the parking lot. By the time Gabriel straddled his motorcycle and revved up the engine, Michael was already turning onto Ventura Boulevard.

The moon and stars were concealed by a thick haze. A fragment of ash drifted through the air and stuck to the Plexiglas visor of his helmet. Gabriel kicked into third gear and shot through the intersection. Looking down the boulevard, he saw Michael turn onto the ramp that led to the freeway. Four cars were a few hundred yards behind the Mercedes. They sped up, formed a group, and headed up the ramp.

It all happened very quickly, but Gabriel knew the cars were together and that they were following his brother. He kicked into fourth gear and went faster. He could feel the engine vibration in his legs and arms. Jerk to the left. Now to the right. And then he was on the freeway.

Gabriel caught up with the group of cars about a mile down the road. There were two unmarked vans and two SUVs with Nevada plates. All four vehicles had tinted windows and it was difficult to see who was sitting inside. Michael hadn’t changed his driving at all; he seemed oblivious to what was going on. As Gabriel watched, one of the SUVs passed Michael on the left and cut back in front of him while another came up directly behind the Mercedes. The four drivers were in communication-maneuvering, getting ready to make a move.

Gabriel glided into the right lane as his brother approached the transition to the San Diego Freeway. They were all moving so fast now that the lights seemed to streak past them. Lean into the curve. Brake slightly. And now they were gliding out of the curve and heading up the hill to the Sepulveda Pass.